SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMMUNICATING AN OBJECT ATTACHED TO A VEHICLE

• US 20150109117A1
• Filed: 10/23/2013
• Published: 04/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Nicastri, Paul R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,224,298 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/435
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/525 automatically indicating risk of collision between vehicles in traffic or with pedestrians, e.g. after risk assessment using the vehicle sensor data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/161 Decentralised systems, e.g. inter-vehicle communication
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/162 event-triggered
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes

Abstract

An exemplary system for a vehicle having an object attached to it may include a user interface device, a controller, and a communication system. The user interface device may be configured to receive and transmit information relating to the object. The controller may be in communication with the user interface device, and may be configured to receive the information from the user interface device. The communication system may be in communication with the controller, and may be configured to transmit at least a subset of the information to at least one other vehicle.

Claims

1. A system for a vehicle having an object selectively attached to it, the system comprising:

a user interface device configured to receive and transmit information relating to the object;

a controller in communication with the user interface device, the controller being configured to receive the information from the user interface device; and

a communication system in communication with the controller, the communication system configured to transmit at least a subset of the information to at least one other vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a detection device configured to detect the object attached to the vehicle, and to generate and transmit a signal to the controller indicating that the object is attached to the vehicle.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the detection device includes a scale, and is configured to generate and transmit the signal to the controller when the scale measures a weight that exceeds a predetermined magnitude.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the detection device includes a proximity sensor configured to sense the object when it is within a defined proximity to the vehicle, and to generate and transmit the signal to the controller when it senses the object longer than a predetermined time interval.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein the detection device includes an onboard camera configured to take at least one image of the object, and wherein the signal represents at least the at least one image.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller is further configured to prompt the user interface device for the information.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the information includes at least one of a height, a width, and a length of the object.

8. A vehicle comprising:

an attachment mechanism by which an object is selectively attachable to the vehicle;

a user interface device configured to receive and transmit information relating to the object;

a controller in communication with the user interface device, the controller being configured to receive the information from the user interface device; and

a communication system in communication with the controller, the communication system configured to transmit at least a subset of the information to at least one other vehicle.

9. The vehicle of claim 8 further comprising a detection device configured to detect the object attached to the vehicle, and to generate and transmit a signal to the controller indicating that the object is attached to the vehicle.

10. The vehicle of claim 9 wherein the detection device includes a scale, and is configured to generate and transmit the signal to the controller when the scale measures a weight that exceeds a predetermined magnitude.

11. The vehicle of claim 9 wherein the detection device includes a proximity sensor configured to sense the object when it is within a defined proximity to the vehicle, and to generate and transmit the signal to the controller when it senses the object longer than a predetermined time interval.

12. The vehicle of claim 9 wherein the detection device includes an onboard camera configured to take at least one image of the object, and wherein the signal represents at least the at least one image.

13. The vehicle of claim 8 wherein the controller is further configured to prompt the user interface device for the information.

14. The vehicle of claim 8 wherein the information includes at least one of a height, a width, and a length of the object.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising detecting, by a detection device, that the object is attached to the first vehicle prior to obtaining the information about the object.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising prompting, by the controller, a user interface device for the information received from passenger airbag of claim 2 wherein the elongated edge is secured to the lower rear portion contiguously along a length of the elongated edge.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein the information includes at least one of a height, a width, and a length of the object.

19. The method of claim 14 further comprising storing at least a subset of the information in at least one memory device.

20. The method of claim 14 wherein the communication system is a vehicle-to-vehicle communication system.

15. A method comprising:

receiving, by a controller, information about an object attached to a first vehicle; and

transmitting, by a communication system, at least a subset of the information to at least a second vehicle.